Wagon-tongue support



(N0 Modelz) J. SMALLEY.

WAGON TONGUE SUPPORT.

No. 332,452. Patented Dec. 15, 1885.

mummy \Mummy- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES SMALLEY, OF FAGTORYVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

WAGON-TONGUE SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 332,452, datedDecember 15, 1885 (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES SMALLEY, residing at Factoryville, in thecounty of VVyoming and State of Pennsylvania, and a citizen of theUnited States of America, have invented a new and Improved AutomaticXVagon-Tongne Support; and I hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of said invention, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 represents a top or plan view. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly insection, and Figs. 3 and 4 represent details of my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The forward end of the tongue or pole of a wagon or vehicle should besupported in such a manner that no weight shall rest upon the necks ofthe horses or other beasts of burden drawing the wagon or vehicle. Thissupport should be given by such mechanical devices as will allow thegreatest latitude of motion in the pole or tongue of the wagon or othervehicle, either upward for the purpose of storing the wagon or vehiclewhen not in use, or downward to allow an animal to step over the pole ortongue, when desirable. Moreover, the device should admit of easy andrapid adjustment, to meet the varying sizes of beasts of burden drawingthe wagon or vehicle. All these results should be attained by means socheap and simple that every owner of a road-wagon can afford to buy anduse one, and any and all persons with the ordinary tools found in everyplace where road wagons or vehicles are in use can apply and regulatethem. To accomplish these results is the object of my invention.

The device which I employ for accomplishing the purposes above set forthis formed and applied as follows: a a, b b, c c, d d, e, and h h is asingle piece of steel wire or other suitable material of proper size,the longitudinal arms b b resting on the hounds O at y, as shown in Fig.2, provided with two coiled springs, c c, opposite each other, withangular arms d (1 extending from the coiled springs forward of the boltj at such an angle that the whiffletrees, which are pivoted at X, cannotunder any circumstances interfere with its free working, united by thetransverse arm 6 )ver the pole or tongue A. The longitudinal arms I) bare bent at right angles with the hounds G at a. From this point theyare bent downward, as shown in Fig. 2 at t, and then turned inward andacross the hounds parallel with the bend at a. A stirrup or U-shapedpiece of steel or other suitable material provided with hooks f f, asshown in Fig. 4, passes under and outside the pole or tongue A, forwardof the tongue-bolt j, and hooks over the transverse arm 6, as shown inFig. 1 at ff.

The action of the coiled springs c c is double-first, an upward strainpulling on the stirrup or U at ff, Fig. 1, and raising the tongue orpole; second, an inward tension at i, Fig. 2, binding the device at anyplace firmly to the hounds without screw, staple, pulley, nail, or anyother fastening whatever. To the double action of the coiled springs ccis added in this device the resilience of the longitudinal arms I) b,the angular arms dd, and the transverse arm 6.

To adjust the tongue or pole to the required elevation, it is onlynecessary that the device be moved forward on the hounds to raise thetongue, or backward to lower it, the automatic clamping device holdingit perfectly secure at any desired point. To release it entirely,raisethe tongue or pole until the hooks f f cease to bear on the transversearm 6, and remove the stirrup or U-shaped piece of steel wire.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. An automatic wagon tongue support consisting of asingle piece of round, square, or angular steel or other suitablematerial, provided with two longitudinal arms resting on the hounds atany desired point, two coiled springs opposite each other, two angulararms, and a transverse arm engaging at its forward part with a stirrupprovided with hooks, said stirrup passing under and outside of thetongue on each of its sides, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a wagon-tongue support, of the coiled springswith the longitudinal, transverse, and angular arms bearing on the topand sides of the hounds, forming an automatic clamp, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name.

JAMES SMALLEY.

Witnesses:

GEo. A. TRANSUE, J. E. PERRY.

